Kirk Hammett has amassed an impressive arsenal of 767 riffs for Metallica’s next album while crafting his solo debut album

Metallica‘s lead guitarist Kirk Hammett seems to be experiencing a creative renaissance lately. Beyond releasing his book “The Collection: Kirk Hammett,” which chronicles his journey through his extensive and treasured guitar collection, the 62-year-old thrash metal pioneer is simultaneously developing his first solo album while building an extensive library of riffs for Metallica’s anticipated twelfth studio album.

In a fresh interview with Rolling Stone, Hammett—who famously lost approximately 250 riff ideas when his phone disappeared over a decade ago—disclosed his methodical approach to gathering material for the follow-up to “72 Seasons”:

“I’ve accumulated 767 new riffs for the upcoming album. Navigating through this volume of material is genuinely daunting. I’m solely responsible for it all, and it’s overwhelming… I don’t expect we’ll begin production on the next album for at least another year as we’re still touring. Once we complete this circuit and cover the remaining regions like Asia, Australia, and New Zealand, we’ll take a modest break—nothing too lengthy—before immediately returning to creative work.”

Progress continues on Hammett’s first solo album as well. The acclaimed metal guitarist and wah-wah aficionado ventured into solo territory in 2022 with his EP “Portals.” Though his initial release was purely instrumental, his forthcoming project will likely feature vocals:

“I’m currently assembling concepts for my solo album. I’d describe it as a fusion of diverse musical styles… I find myself spontaneously writing classical progressions, then shifting to heavier compositions, then suddenly exploring funk elements… These new pieces naturally call for vocals. So I’m contemplating who might handle the singing? Uncertain at this point. I hope it’s not me—my on-stage responsibilities are already extensive… I’ve composed an instrumental piece with an ancient quality, as if it were crafted 2000 years ago, titled ‘The Mysterion.’ It emerged from my studies of ancient Greek texts, and remarkably, this composition wouldn’t exist had I not immersed myself in these historical writings.”

Later in the discussion, Hammett expressed intrigue at the possibility of Metallica revisiting their once-controversial 1990s sonic evolution. Regarding potentially returning to that era’s aesthetic:

“Who knows? We might just declare, ‘Let’s revisit our nineties sound.’ It’s not a bad proposition! We haven’t discussed this collectively yet. What’s fascinating is that when ‘Load’ and ‘Reload’ were initially released, they encountered significant resistance. Yet today I meet fans who deeply appreciate that period. When we perform ‘Fuel,’ audiences erupt. When we play ‘Until It Sleeps,’ everyone recites every word.”

“It parallels my experience as a teenager when I embraced every Led Zeppelin album except ‘Zeppelin III’ because of its acoustic emphasis—I exclusively sought high-energy, aggressive material. Eventually, though, I developed a profound appreciation for ‘Zeppelin III’ and recognized its brilliance.”

As Hammett indicated, Metallica still faces approximately a year of touring obligations, with numerous dates already confirmed across North America and Oceania.

04/19 Syracuse, NY – JMA Wireless Dome (feat. Pantera & Suicidal Tendencies)
04/24 Toronto, ON – Rogers Centre (feat. Pantera & Suicidal Tendencies)
04/26 Toronto, ON – Rogers Centre (feat. Limp Bizkit & Ice Nine Kills)
05/01 Nashville, TN – Nissan Stadium (feat. Pantera & Suicidal Tendencies)
05/03 Nashville, TN – Nissan Stadium (feat. Limp Bizkit & Ice Nine Kills)
05/07 Blacksburg, VA – Lane Stadium (feat. Pantera & Suicidal Tendencies)
05/09-11 Columbus OH – Sonic Temple Art & Music Festival
05/23 Philadelphia, PA – Lincoln Financial Field (feat. Limp Bizkit & Ice Nine Kills)
05/25 Philadelphia, PA – Lincoln Financial Field (feat. Pantera & Suicidal Tendencies)
05/28 Landover, MD – Northwest Stadium (feat. Pantera & Suicidal Tendencies)
05/31 Charlotte, NC – Bank Of America Stadium (feat. Pantera & Suicidal Tendencies)
06/03 Atlanta, GA – Mercedes-Benz Stadium (feat. Pantera & Suicidal Tendencies)
06/06 Tampa, FL – Raymond James Stadium (feat. Limp Bizkit & Ice Nine Kills)
06/08 Tampa, FL – Raymond James Stadium (feat. Pantera & Suicidal Tendencies)
06/14 Houston, TX – NRG Stadium (feat. Pantera & Suicidal Tendencies)
06/20 Santa Clara, CA – Levi’s Stadium (feat. Limp Bizkit & Ice Nine Kills)
06/22 Santa Clara, CA – Levi’s Stadium (feat. Pantera & Suicidal Tendencies)
06/27 Denver, CO – Empower Field at Mile High (feat. Limp Bizkit & Ice Nine Kills)
06/29 Denver, CO – Empower Field at Mile High (feat. Pantera & Suicidal Tendencies)

With Evanescence & Suicidal Tendencies:

11/01 Perth, AUS – Optus Stadium
11/05 Adelaide, AUS – Adelaide Oval
11/08 Melbourne, AUS – Marvel Stadium
11/12 Brisbane, AUS – Suncorp Stadium
11/15 Sydney, AUS – Accor Stadium
11/19 Auckland, NZ – Eden Park